EP2690719B1 - Cable retention cover of a connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to connection devices, and in particular the connection devices for cables. These cables can be electrical cables or other types of cables, such as optical cables.

By cable is meant in the following text any element for transmitting energy, signal, fluid, for example an electric cable, an optical cable, or a hydraulic line.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for holding the cable bundles arriving at a connector, whether this connector is a two-part connector, each part being able to be provided with the cable holding device in question, or that the holding device is only installed on a base connector part or on a plug connector part.

By plug connector part, is meant a connector piece secured to a wall, for example to a wall of an appliance casing, or a wall forming part of the internal structure of a vehicle, for example automobile or aeronautics.

By plug connector part is meant a connection end which can move with the end of a cable to connect to a base piece.

This type of connector can in particular be used in transport devices, for example in aircraft, to provide power to embedded devices or to exchange data between two devices with electronic components. A connector part generally comprises one or more central blocks provided, on one of their faces, with orifices into which the ends of the cables to be connected are inserted. The central blocks are provided on their opposite face, a male or female connection terminal opposite each cable, adapted to be inserted into a connection terminal of another central block.

The connector usually includes a body holding the central blocks. The entrance (on the cable arrival side) of the body of the connector must be wide enough (typically, as wide as the output face of the connector body, which emerge the connection faces of the central blocks), so as to insert in the connector several bundles of cables, and to be able to connect the cables of the same beam, if necessary, to separate central blocks.

The connector is generally associated with a connector cover, which can be assembled around the input of the connector once the cable connections made with the central blocks. This cover is generally provided with cable guide holes which are each placed around a bundle of cables and for laterally retaining the bundles of cables.

Strapping of each bundle of cables can be set up so as to join a bundle of cables with one of the cable guide members, and axially maintain the bundle of cables relative to the connector.

These covers may for example comprise two half-shells screwed together with fine pitch metal screws. The strapping can then be performed using metal strapping bands whose end is cut after the strapping operation.

The assembly of the hood is then tedious and requires specific tools such as screwdrivers and strapping pliers. In addition, the strapping waste must be managed so that it does not stick or get stuck on the connector.

In addition, if an intervention must be made to restore a connection of one of the cables with a central block, the metal strapping is tedious to break and must then be replaced by new strapping, always with adequate tools.

US 2007/049105 A1 discloses a holding device according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention aims to provide a connector holding device, allowing a quick assembly without tools of the holding device. This holding device is also completely removable, in that it does not require the replacement of a portion of the assembly or strapping means following an intervention on the connector. This device also allows not to transmit tensile forces to the inner cable portions of the connector

• un ou plusieurs organes de clipsage, aptes à être accrochés à un ou plusieurs reliefs de clipsage du connecteur;
• un ou plusieurs premiers rebords de centrage, aptes à être insérés axialement à l'intérieur du connecteur, positionnés de manière à limiter, une fois insérés, l'éloignement de la demi-coque par rapport à l'autre demi coque.

A device for holding at least one cable bundle, which can be fixed on a connector, is proposed for this purpose. The device comprises first and second half-shells, each provided with at least one cable guide member for each beam. The cable guide members are configured to keep the beam oriented in an axial direction. Preferably, the two half-shells are able to be assembled together and able to be secured to one end of the connector to form a shell covering a portion of each of the beams held by the device. The two half-shells are configured to be close to each other in a first direction. Once in mutual contact, the two half-shells are configured to be held against each other by means of at least one strapping surrounding a first cable guide member of the first half-shell and a second cable guide member of the second half hull. The two half-hulls include:

• one or more clipping members, adapted to be hooked to one or more clipping reliefs of the connector;
• one or more first centering flanges, able to be inserted axially inside the connector, positioned so as to limit, once inserted, the distance of the half-shell relative to the other half-shell.

The half shells are designed to be clipped together on the connector after strapping the cable guide members, the clipping being done by axial displacement towards the connector. Preferably, the clipping members are configured to perform their function by being spaced apart or compressed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The clipping members may be for example elastic tabs deviating in the second direction. The centering flanges can be configured to be inserted axially into a cable exit opening of the connector when clipping the half-shells. circled on the connector. Preferably, the cable outlet opening is at its final dimension when inserting the flanges. By this is meant that the connector is in final assembly configuration at the time of clipping of the holding device, and does not need to be partially disassembled or widen the exit opening of the cables to accommodate the edges of centering. Because the half-shells are hinged before inserting them axially into the connector, it is easier, at the time of strapping, to thread the braids or sheaths protecting each bundle of cables over the cable guide members, to tighten them. on the cable guide member by the strapping, then stretch these circled sheaths at their ends by clipping the holding device on the connector.

The locations dedicated to the strapping, the clipping members and the centering flanges are preferably dimensioned to be able to ensure by themselves the cohesion of the device with the connector.

Preferably, the half-shells can be assembled to the connector using only the previous elements. According to an alternative embodiment, the cohesion of the two half-shells between them can be improved by reliefs of the half-shells for clipping one of the half-shells on the other half-shell.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first cable guide member and the second cable guide member form, once circled, a substantially cylindrical conduit. Preferably, the shell comprises a plurality of parallel guide ducts, the axes of the ducts being preferably arranged in the same plane.

Advantageously, each half shell comprises two elastic tabs each extending in a substantially axial direction, and each carrying a hooking end adapted to be clipped on a relief or a complementary recess formed on the connector, and preferably on a relief or a complementary hollow formed on an outer face of the connector. The assembly of the two half-shells can be done by bringing the two half-shells closer to one another in a first direction, and the two clipping lugs can then be on either side of the half-shell, in being aligned next a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. (In other words, it is necessary to move in the second direction to go from a first leg to the second leg of the same half-shell). In this way, the two legs of the half-shell are able to clip on two radially opposite sides of the connector, and each half-shell can be secured to the connector independently of the other half-shell. The centering flanges preferably run at least a portion of the half-shell not parallel to the first direction, so as to block the distance of a half-shell from the other half-shell in this same direction. Each centering flange may optionally consist of one or more pins protruding from the half shell to the right of this portion not parallel to the first direction, or comprise a tongue portion along the half shell to the right of this portion.

The strapping may comprise a substantially cylindrical inner surface ring portion, and, in the assembled position of the device, the first cable guide member of the first half-shell and the second cable-guide member of the second half-shell may comprise an end flange. protruding axially from the ring portion, and protruding radially from the inside diameter of the ring portion. The substantially cylindrical duct may comprise an outer circumferential groove of axial width substantially equal to the axial width of the ring portion. According to a preferred embodiment, the outer groove comprises a cylindrical surface limited at one axial end by the body of the shell, and limited to the other axial end by the end rim. Preferably, the outer diameter of the circumferential groove is slightly less than the inside diameter of the ring, the radial thickness available between the cylindrical duct and the ring to allow to insert the thickness corresponding to a braid or envelope of protection surrounding the surrounding wire bundle held by the cable guide.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a strapping means comprising a first half-gripper and a second half-gripper each comprising the same number of half-portions of axle rings parallel to each other, each half-gripper having at least one clipping member between each half-ring portion and a clipping member on either side of the set of half-portions of rings, the two half-clips are configured to be clipped with each other so as to grip in each ring portion a first cable guide member of the first half-shell, and a second cable guide member of the second half shell. According to a preferred embodiment, the first half-gripper is a piece identical to the second half-gripper. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the number of cylindrical cable guide ducts is odd.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the ring comprises two half-rings made of polymer-based material, fitting in a hinge at one of their ends, and comprising at their other ends a clipping end complementary to a clipping end of the other half ring. According to a preferred embodiment, the half-rings each comprise a one-piece armature extending between the hinge end and the clipping end, and comprising these two ends, the armature being molded in thermoplastic material having a module of Young between 4000 MPa and 5000 MPa, for example polyetherimide.

Advantageously, each half ring or half-ring portion comprises on its inner face, at least one pin, a strip or a bearing surface of elastomeric material. According to a preferred embodiment, the pin, the strip or the bearing surface is locally raised relative to a substantially cylindrical inner surface of the armature of the ring or the half-gripper.

For example, each half ring comprises on its inner face, at least one elastomeric strip extending in a circumferential direction. According to a preferred embodiment, each elastomeric band extends circumferentially only on a central portion of the half-ring, without reaching the hinge end or the clipping end. Preferably, the band elastomer extends over a portion greater than or equal to two thirds of the half circumference of the ring.

The elastomeric strip may be overmolded on a groove of the inner surface of the ring or the half ring portion, and have a central channel in which the radial thickness is reduced relative to the maximum radial thickness of the strip. The elastomer constituting the strip or the bearing surface is preferably a silicone elastomer, to ensure a substantially constant behavior over a very wide temperature range.

Advantageously, the clipping end of one of the half rings comprises a tongue configured to slide through an opening of the clipping end of the other half ring. Advantageously, the radial bending stiffness of the half-rings and the clipping force of the ring are such that the ring can be closed and clipped by manual pressure on the two half-rings. Preferably, the hinge between the two half-rings and the clipping between the ends of the two half-rings are provided by interlocking complementary shapes of the two half-rings, without adding additional connecting piece.

The elastic clipping tabs are preferably monoblock with a portion of the half-shell masking the cable bundles, extend, on the opposite side to their clipping end, by an unclip tab for levering with respect to a band of Hinge clip for manually tilting the tab by pressing the tab. It is thus possible by pressing two fingers on the four tabs of the shell, to facilitate clipping on the connector or to allow unclipping of the holding device with the connector.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connection assembly comprising a connector adapted to connect at least a first and a second wiring harness. The connector comprises a body inside which join the first and second bundles of cables. The assembly comprising at least one holding device as described above, clipped on the connector. Advantageously, the holding device is able to be clipped onto the connector after assembly of the connector on the cables, without the geometry of the connector need to be modified during or after clipping of the holding device.

In this assembly, the ends of the resilient tabs are clipped for example on dedicated clipping grooves formed on the connector. The grooves extend in the first direction (closing direction of the shell by assembling the two half-shells). By groove is meant here as well a recessed shape, a shoulder rail in relief, behind which can hang the end of the clipping lugs.

According to a preferred embodiment which can be combined with the previous one, the connector comprises portions in relief. These raised portions are placed so as to prevent the half-shells from sliding in the first direction relative to the connector, for example placed on a line of meeting between the two half-shells. These raised portions are preferably on an outer surface of the connector, and if the ends of the elastic tabs are clipped on dedicated clipping grooves, may be located along these grooves.

• la figure 1 est une perspective éclatée partielle d'un système de maintien selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un élément d'un dispositif de maintien selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue d'une sous-partie de l'élément de la figure 2, et
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un connecteur en deux parties muni de deux dispositifs de maintien selon l'invention, et
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un moyen de cerclage d'un dispositif de maintien selon l'invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial exploded perspective of a holding system according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of an element of a holding device according to the invention,
• the figure 3 is a view of a sub-part of the element of the figure 2 , and
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of a two-part connector provided with two holding devices according to the invention, and
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of a strapping means of a holding device according to the invention.

The figure 1 illustrates some elements of a holding cap 3 according to the invention. The elements are placed in relation to four bundles of cables 10 each surrounded by a protective conductive braid 9 and arriving at the bottom of the figure to a connector (not shown).

To facilitate the reading of the figure, one of the cable bundles is shown without protective braid, and in fact, the cover according to the invention can also be used to connect cables without braid or other protective sheath.

The holding device, or cover, 3 comprises two half-shells of which only the first, a half-shell 1, is represented on the figure 1 . The second half shell 2 is for example visible on the overview in figure 4 . Each half-shell comprises a shell body 5 forming a half-casing covering all the cable bundles arriving at the connector on an axial portion thereof, and also comprises a series of cable-guide members 4, each capable of coming to be placed around one of the bundles of cables arriving at the shell body 5. The two half-shells 1 and 2 are able to be assembled with each other so as to put each cable guide member of the first half hull with a cable guide member of the second half hull. Each pair of cable guide members then forms a substantially cylindrical shell portion adapted to surround an axial portion of one of the cable bundles 10. The outside of the guide members 4 has a substantially cylindrical portion 13 limited, the opposite side to shell body 5, by an end flange 12, of diameter greater than that of the cylindrical portion 13. It can also be considered the cylindrical portion 13 as a circumferential groove surrounding all of the two cable guide members 4 of the two half-shells 1 and 2.

Each cable guide member therefore connects the inside of the shell body 5 and the outside of the shell body, where each cable bundle ceases to be held by the cover 3 or the connector.

The wire guide members 4 have here been represented in number of four, but it goes without saying that any number of cable guide members may be provided, the number of cable guide members preferably being equal to the number of central blocks of the connector. In particular, a hood can be provided in which each half shell comprises only one or two cable guide members.

Throughout the text, z direction means the direction z corresponding to the direction of engagement of the two halves of the connector, which is here also the direction of arrival of the cables on the connector. The first direction x denotes the direction in which the two half-shells 1 and 2 are moved relative to each other to assemble them together and obtain a cover shell 3, and the second direction y denotes the direction perpendicular to both x and z directions. The direction is here the direction corresponding to the largest dimension of the half-shell 1.

On its axially opposite side to the cable guide members 4, the half-shell 1 and the half-shell 2 comprise a centering flange 14 allowing the end of the shell (formed by the two half-shells) to be inserted inside the shell. an axial portion of the end of the connector. This provides an axial overlap between the shell and the connector, which contributes to the centering of the shell relative to the connector, and which keeps the two half-shells assembled with each other in the vicinity of the connector.

The axial overlap zone also makes it possible to ensure electrical contact between the shell and the connector by virtue of the presence of contact bulges 15 which are formed on the shell and / or on the connector, in the axial overlap zone.

Similarly, each half-shell is provided with centering flanges 36 making it possible to have an overlap in the first direction x of the first half-shell with the second half-shell.

Each half shell comprises two resilient clipping tabs 7, which are integral with the shell body 5 and with the cable guide members 4. The elastic tabs 7 extend in the axial direction z, and are located relative to each other. the other on either side of all the cable guide members, in the docking areas of the first half-shell 1 on the second half-shell 2.

Each elastic tab 7 comprises a clipping end 8 adapted to be inserted behind a relief, or in a hollow, of the connector body. The elastic lug extends, on the axially opposite side to its clipping end, by an uncliping tab 11. The blade formed by the clipping tab-unclip tab assembly is attached to the shell body 5 by a hinge strip 32 around from which the blade can rotate. Thus, when the release tabs 11 are depressed, the two elastic tabs 7 are pivoted so as to disengage their attachment end 8 from the complementary reliefs of the connector.

The introduction of the cover 3 can for example be done in the following manner. After having connected the different cables of the beams 10 to the central blocks of the connector (not shown), the two half-shells 1 and 2 are closed one on the other to surround each of the bundles of cables by the cable guide members 4 of FIG. each of the two half-hulls. The shell formed by the half-shells 1 and 2 is, in this step, slightly set back relative to the connector, that is to say that the tabs 7 are not clipped on the connector.

The braids 9 of each bundle of cables are then stretched over two complementary cable guide members of the two half-shells: figure 1 , the end of the braids 9 has been shown as if it had been passed over the cable guide members 4 after assembly of the two half-shells 1 and 2, although the half-shell 2 is not visible in the figure. The end of the braids 9 matches the outer contour of the cable guide members 4 of the shell. The braid 9 is then tightened on the cable guide members by means of a strapping ring 6 made of plastic, which is housed in the circumferential groove 13, so as to be held axially by the end rim 12 of the guide.

Each half shell is a monoblock injected piece of plastic, for example thermoplastic material may include conductive fillers. Each half-shell may be metallized on its outer face, for example by vacuum deposition, or by other known surface metallization techniques. This metallization ensures electrical continuity between the shielding braids 9 and an outer face of the two half-shells 1 and 2, in particular by clamping the braid 9 on the outer surface of the guide members 4. Electrical continuity is also ensured between the outer faces of the two half-shells and a connector body 26 or 27 (not shown in FIG. figure 1 but visible on the figure 4 ). This second continuity is provided by the contact bulges 15 of the shells, which are metallized, the metallization layer extending to the outer face of each half-shell. Once the holding device 3 assembled to the connector, these bulges 15 which are compressed between the covering areas of the shell and an inner face of the end of the connector (not visible in the figures).

The figure 2 illustrates a clamping ring 6 of the holding device 3 illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .

The ring 6 comprises a first half-ring 16 and a second half-ring 17 articulated around a hinge obtained by rotating a hook 19, integrated at a circumferential end of the first half-ring 16, around a molded hinge axis 20 at one circumferential end of the second half-ring 17. Each half-ring comprises a reinforcement 33 in the form of a hollow half-cylinder extending substantially over an angular sector of 180 °, from its hinge end, for example from the hinge hook 19, to its clipping end, for example to the end of the ring 16 comprising the clipping opening 24.

The hinge hook 19 and the hinge pin 20 are molded integrally in the same material as the cylindrical armature 33 of each half-ring. At its end opposite the hinge zone, the second half-ring 17 comprises a clipping tab 23 whose harpoon end hooks onto a shoulder 25 of the first half-ring 16. In order to improve the maintenance, the Shoulder 25 is here placed behind a clipping orifice 24 of the first half-ring, which must pass through the clipping tongue 23 to hook onto the shoulder 25.

The raised area of the harpoon is oriented radially outwardly of the ring 6, so that the harpoon is locked in the locked position when the ring is urged by a radial pressure from its inner face 18. On its face 18, each of the half rings has a substantially cylindrical surface from which two elastomeric strips 21 extending circumferentially on the inside of the ring emerge in relief.

Each of the strips 21 is overmolded on a circumferential groove formed on the inner face 18 of the ring (groove not visible in the figures). Each of the strips 21 comprises a circumferential central channel 22, extending substantially at mid-width of the strip.

Thus, when clamping the ring 6 around the braid 9 and the two cable guide members 4 facing each other on the two half-shells 1 and 2, the elastomeric strips axially retain the braid 9 because of their high coefficient of friction. In addition, these elastomeric strips 21 exert, when the ring is clipped around the cable guide members 4 and the braid 9, a radial spring return force tending both to open the ring, and to block the clipping ends 23, 25, the ring in the locked position. This elastic force can be countered by a simple pressure of two fingers of an operator, either at the time of the clipping operation or, if necessary, at the time of an unclipping operation of the ring 6.

The radial excess thickness of the elastomeric strips 21 with respect to the inner face 18 of the two half-rings also allows the ring 6 to be used with different thicknesses of the braid or the protective sheath 9.

Advantageously, each elastomeric band 21 extends over a sector representing substantially two-thirds to three-quarters of the inner circumference of the half-ring, on a central portion of the half-ring: the end zones of each half-ring (zones hinge and clipping areas) are therefore devoid of these elastomeric strips.

Thus, when closing the ring 6 around a pair of cable guide members 4, when it comes to apply the inner face of the hinge zone of the ring 6 against the braid 9, it is not necessary to hampered by a coefficient of friction too high of the ring relative to the braid, which could hinder the closure of the ring.

Similarly, if it is desired to engage the two clipping ends or to separate them from one another, and that we slide for this purpose these ends with respect to the braid 9, we are not embarrassed by the local friction of the ring 6 against the braid 9.

The presence of the central channels 22 of the elastomeric strips makes it possible to add additional flexibility to the radial deformation of the elastomer strips. It is not departing from the scope of the invention if the two elastomer strips are replaced by any number of elastomer strips, or by an elastomeric surface covering the entire width of each half-ring, and extending over all or part of the inner circumference of the half ring.

It is also conceivable to replace the continuous elastomeric strips with discontinuous elastomer strips, or with elastomeric pins distributed on the inner face of the half-ring, preferably in a relatively uniform manner on the inner face, and avoiding the end zones. of the half ring. It is also possible to use continuous elastomeric strips on an angular portion of the inner surface of the half-ring, and to soften the elastomer strip 21 in radial compression by the presence of discontinuous recesses (not shown) of the strip along the latter. .

The figure 3 is a perspective view of the first half-ring 16 where we see more clearly, because they appear here almost face, the elastomeric strips 21 and their central channels 22.

The armature 33 is a one-piece piece molded in a sufficiently rigid material, and of sufficient tensile stress, to withstand the necessary forces at the hinge end and at the clipping end.

The material, typically a thermoplastic material, must, on the other hand, be sufficiently flexible to allow closure by clipping of the ring 6 by pressing two fingers of an operator,

On the reinforcement 33, the elastomer strips 21 are then overmolded.

The figure 4 is a simplified view of a connector assembled on either side of a support plate 28. The connector comprises a base portion 26, and a plug portion 27. The base portion 26 is clipped to the inside an orifice of the support plate 28, and the plug portion 27 is subsequently secured to the base portion 26.

On each of the base 26 or plug 27, is assembled a cover 3 according to the invention. We find on the figure 4 elements common to Figures 1 to 3 , the same elements being then designated by the same references.

The clipping ends 8 of the elastic tabs 7 are hooked on a relief 29 of the base portion 26 or the plug portion 27. The relief 29 has substantially the shape of a rail extending in the first direction x. Each unclipping tab 11 of one of the half-shells is positioned next to, and in the extension of, an unclip tab 11 of the other half-shell. Thus, to unclip the cover 3 of the connector, the operator has only to press two support zones 37 and 38 (each comprising two side-by-side unclip tabs) substantially continuous facing each other. both sides of the connector.

Each clipping rail 29 is interrupted, substantially at the center of its length, by a blocking relief 31. The thickness along the second direction y of the locking relief 31 allows it to be inserted into a notch 30 (visible on the figure 1 ) arranged under the elastic tabs 11, between two adjacent elastic tabs. The relief 31 thus blocks the assembled shell of the cover 3 relative to a possible movement in the first direction x.

The notches 30 and the blocking relief 31 make it possible to carry out a first centering of the cover 3 during the snapping of it to the blocking relief 31. The blocking relief 31 is inserted between the elastic tabs 7 before the centering flange 14 begins to engage in the end of the connector.

According to the embodiments, the notches 30 formed between the elastic tabs 7 can be inserted on either side of a dedicated locking relief for this purpose, and disposed on or in the vicinity of the hooking rail 29. or the notches 30 can be inserted on either side of the connector elements also dedicated to functions other than the centering of the cover 3, for example on either side of a flexion tab 34 to block or release a drawer 35. The blocking elements (relief 31, leg 34 ...) may not be the same on both sides of the same half shell. The locking elements may also be different between a plug portion and a base portion of the same connector. It is conceivable to center the hood with a blocking relief only at one of the meeting points of the two half-shells, and not to center it at the other meeting point. It is also conceivable to center the hood only by means of the centering flange 14.

The figure 5 illustrates a strapping means 40 according to the invention, which can be used in place of the rings 6 illustrated in FIG. figure 2 .

The strapping means 40 comprises a first half-gripper 41 and a second half-gripper 42 which, when assembled, define ring portions 46 having two substantially cylindrical inner surfaces 18. Each ring portion 46 thus consists of two half-ring portions, for example 39a and 43a, 39b and 43b, or 39c and 43c, of internal diameter and axial length corresponding substantially respectively to the outer diameter of the circumferential groove 13 guide members 4 and the axial length of the circumferential groove 13.

The first half-gripper 41 is thus provided with three half-ring portions 39a, 39b and 39c. The second half-gripper 42 is provided with three half-portions of rings 43a, 43b and 43c. Between each half-portion of rings and at both ends of the half-gripper, either side of all the half-portions of rings, each half-clamp is provided with at least one clipping member which may have a first clipping member geometry 44, here in the form of a harpoon, or a second geometry 45 clipping member complementary to the first form of clipping member, here a housing 45 adapted to receive the end of the harpoon 44. The first half-gripper 41 and the second half-gripper 42 can be placed face face to face so that, each time, a clipping member 44 of the first type is in front of a clipping member 45 of the second type.

In the example shown on the figure 5 , the strapping means is provided to fit on a holding cap receiving three bundles of cables. Each of the half-clips therefore comprises three half-ring portions and four clipping members. In this configuration, the first half-gripper 41 may be the same part as the second half-gripper 42, a clipping member 44 being each placed symmetrically with respect to a clipping member of the type 45 along the half-gripper -pince.

With this type of strapping member, the number of parts to be handled is reduced in order to assemble the connector, since all half-rings 16 and 17 illustrated in FIG. figure 2 . The assembly is also facilitated, because it is easier for an operator to press on either side of a bar formed by the two half-clips that come to assemble separately the rings by inserting them in the intervals between each bundle of cables.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and can be declined in many variants. The generating section of the rings may be other than rectangular. The contour of the section may for example be rounded outwardly of the rings, and rectilinear on the inside of the rings. The circumferential groove 13 itself may be other than cylindrical. It may for example have two frustoconical portions with a minimum section diameter, in which a minimum section diameter of a ring would be housed. also having two frustoconical sections. Clipping tabs 7 may not be provided with tabs 11 unclipping.

Each of the two half-shells can carry a single leg, so that once assembled, the shell comprises two clipping lugs adapted to snap on both sides of the connector. It is also possible to envisage embodiments in which one of the half-shells has two elastic tabs, and the other half-shell bears no elastic tab. In the embodiment where each of the half-shell carries two tabs, the attachment of the holding device is improved because each of the half-shell can be secured to the connector independently of its assembly or not with the other half-shell.

The rim of the centering 14 could be discontinuous and not extend over the entire perimeter of the half shell. The centering relief 31, positioned in the example described between the clipping lugs 7, could be replaced by an axial relief inserted in a notch of the shell body 5, at the interface between the bodies of the two half-shells, or another point of the docking contour of the half-shell on the connector. The cohesion between the two half-shells could be improved, using clipping reliefs to secure the two half-shells together before setting up the strapping rings. Clipping tabs 7 could be provided with a recessed area at their end, in which would be inserted a raised element projecting from the side face of the connector.

The holding cap according to the invention can be assembled quickly, ensures good electrical continuity between the braids and the connector, as well as good axial retention of the braids to prevent the loosening thereof. The cover can be assembled or disassembled manually, without specific tools, and without the addition of a new band ring if an intervention is necessary on the connector.

Claims (15)

1. Removable securing device (3) that can be fixed onto a connector and configured to secure at least one bundle (10) of cables leaving the connector in an axial direction (z), the device (3) comprising a first (1) and a second (2) half-shell each provided with at least one cable guide member (4) for each bundle, the two half-shells (1, 2) being configured to be able to be brought together in a first direction (x) substantially at right angles to the axial direction and secured against one another on a portion outside the connector, by means of at least one tightening strap (6) surrounding a first cable guide member (4) of the first half-shell (1) and a second cable guide member (4) of the second (2) half-shell, characterized in that the half-shells are configured to be able at any moment to be clipped onto the connector by axial displacement towards the connector or unclipped together with each half-shell (1, 2) comprising for this purpose:

   - one or more elastic clipping members (7), that can be attached one or more clipping reliefs (29) of the connector;

   - one or more first centring (1, 2) flanges (14), that can be inserted axially upon clipping into a cable output opening of the connector, the flanges being positioned so as to limit, once inserted, the separating of the half-shell from the other half-shell.
2. Securing device according to Claim 1, in which the first cable guide member (4) and the second cable guide member form, once strapped, a substantially cylindrical duct.
3. Securing device according to one of the preceding claims, in which each half-shell (1, 2) comprises two elastic tabs (7) each extending in a substantially axial direction (z) and each bearing an attachment end (8) that can be clipped onto a complementary relief (29) or hollow formed on the connector.
4. Securing device according to Claim 3, in which the two half-shells (1, 2) are configured to be assembled by bringing the two half-shells together in a first direction (x), and in which the two clipping tabs (7) are located on either side of the half-shell while being aligned in a second direction (y) at right angles to the first direction (x).
5. Securing device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a strapping means (6, 40) comprising at least one ring portion (6, 46) of substantially cylindrical internal surface (18), and in which, in the assembled position of the device (3), the first cable guide member (4) and the second guide member (4) comprise an end flange (12) axially overlapping the ring portion, and radially overlapping relative to the diameter of the substantially cylindrical internal surface (18).
6. Securing device according to Claims 2 and 5, in which the substantially cylindrical duct comprises an outer circumferential groove (13) of axial width substantially equal to the axial width of the ring portion (6, 46).
7. Securing device according to one of Claims 5 and 6, in which the ring comprises two half-shells (16, 17) made of polymer-based material, fitted together by a hinge (19, 20) at one of their ends, and comprising, at their other ends, a clipping end (23, 24) complementing a clipping end of the other half-ring.
8. Securing device according to Claim 7, in which the clipping end of one of the half-rings comprises a tongue (23) configured to slide through an opening (24) of the clipping end of the other half-ring.
9. Securing device according to one of Claims 5 and 6, in which the strapping means (40) comprises a first half-clamp (41) and a second half-clamp (42) each comprising a same number of half-ring portions (39a, 39b, 39c, 43a, 43b, 43c) of axis parallel to one another, each half-clamp comprising at least one clipping member (44, 45) between each half-ring portion and comprising a clipping member (44, 45) on either side of all the half-ring portions, the two half-clamps being configured to be able to be clipped to one another so as to grip, in each ring portion (46), a first cable guide member (4) of the first half-shell (1) and a second cable guide member (4) of the second (2) half-shell.
10. Securing device according to one of Claims 5 to 8, in which each ring portion comprises, on an internal face (18) of the ring portion, at least one pin, one band (21) or one bearing surface of elastomer material.
11. Securing device according to Claim 10, in which each ring portion (1, 2) comprises, on an internal face (18) of the ring portion, at least one elastomer band (21) extending in a circumferential direction of the ring portion.
12. Securing device according to Claim 9, in which the elastomer band (21) is overmoulded on a furrow of the internal face (18) of the ring portion, and has a central channel (22) in which the radial thickness is reduced relative to the maximum radial thickness of the band.
13. Securing device according to one of Claims 3 to 12, in which the elastic tabs (7) are of a piece with a part (33) of the half-shell masking the cable bundles, and in which the elastic tabs (7) are extended, on the side opposite their clipping end, by an unclipping tongue (11) that makes it possible to manually tilt the tab by pressing on the tongue.
14. Connection assembly comprising a connector that can connect at least one first and one second cable bundle (10), the connector comprising a body inside which the first and second cable bundles are joined, the assembly further comprising at least one securing device (3) according to one of Claims 3 to 13, that can be clipped at any moment onto the connector.
15. Connection assembly according to Claim 14, in which the ends of the elastic tabs (7) are clipped onto dedicated clipping notches (29) formed on an outer surface of the connector, the notches extending in a first direction (x) of assembly of the half-shells, and in which the connector comprises, on the outer surface, relief portions (31) which, once the two half-shells (1, 2) are assembled on the connector, prevent the half-shells from sliding in the first direction relative to the connector.

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